The 2024 Kia Carnival with the 3.5L V6 gets 22 MPG combined. It won’t win any fuel efficiency awards, but realistically, people don’t buy it expecting the best gas mileage. It’s the family vehicle, the kid transport, the road trip vehicle. For these tasks, buyers want a spacious, comfortable, and well-equipped minivan, and the Carnival excels here. The fuel consumption is simply part of the overall cost.

City and highway performance

The EPA estimates for the 2024 Kia Carnival are 19 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway. The city figure reflects the frequent stops and starts of urban driving, where the Carnival’s weight and shape aren’t ideal. The highway number is better because the smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission allows the engine to cruise at a more efficient RPM. Long highway trips are where a comfortable van excels, so the Carnival’s fuel consumption on road trips will likely improve compared to typical city driving.

Annual fuel cost

The EPA estimates the annual fuel cost for the 2024 Kia Carnival at $2,000. This is based on driving 15,000 miles per year and using national average fuel prices. Remember that this is only an estimate, and your actual fuel costs will vary depending on your driving habits, the type of driving you do, and the price of gasoline in your area. However, knowing the EPA estimate allows a useful comparison to other vehicles’ running costs.

Real-world expectations

While the EPA estimates are a helpful starting point, real-world fuel economy often differs. Aggressive driving, carrying heavy loads, and long periods of idling can all hurt fuel efficiency. If you frequently do these things, expect numbers somewhat below the EPA estimates. But, if you drive carefully and focus on saving gas, you might see numbers close to or even better than the EPA’s numbers. Owners are reporting about 18-24 MPG combined on online forums, so expect similar results.

How it compares

The minivan group isn’t known for being fuel efficient, but it’s helpful to see how the Carnival compares. The Honda Odyssey, gets 19 MPG city, 28 MPG highway, and 22 MPG combined, matching the Carnival. The Chrysler Pacifica, with its 3.6L V6, gets similar numbers at 19/28/22 MPG. However, the Pacifica offers a plug-in hybrid version, which greatly improves fuel economy in city driving and short trips, and is rated at 82 MPGe combined when running on electricity. Anyone looking for less gas and has access to charging should consider the Pacifica plug-in hybrid. If you’re trying to find all all Kia fuel economy data you should be able to find it online.

Tips to maximize efficiency

The Carnival’s V6 engine benefits from smooth acceleration. Avoid sudden speed increases and try to keep a consistent speed, especially on the highway. Gradual acceleration reduces fuel use and helps the engine stay in its most efficient RPM range.

Make sure your tires are inflated to the recommended pressure. Underinflated tires increase resistance, making the engine work harder and burning more fuel. Check your tire pressure regularly, especially when the weather changes.

Remove unnecessary weight whenever possible. Extra items in the vehicle add to the engine’s workload, lowering fuel economy. Remove anything you don’t need to carry every day.

On the highway, use cruise control when possible. Maintaining a steady speed helps get better fuel efficiency by preventing unneeded speed changes. Cruise control works best on long, flat roads.

If equipped, try using the “Eco” driving mode. This mode typically adjusts how the accelerator responds and when the transmission shifts to prioritize fuel efficiency. Even though it might reduce performance a bit, it can help you save fuel, especially in city driving. If you want to see the CARNIVAL MPG across all years you can compare it to other model years.